Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 53:21-54:14

If the Royal Navy destroyed Germany's fleet in 1914

Removing the German battle fleet at the beginning of the First World War could free Britain to seek an amphibious route around the Western Front.

Alternate HistoryAmphibious WarfareImperial German NavyRoyal NavyWorld War I
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Question

How would a Copenhagen-style destruction of the German fleet change the First World War?

Short answer

It could release the Royal Navy for amphibious operations intended to break the Western Front stalemate and put Germany under pressure elsewhere.

Notes

A Copenhagen-style opening blow would fundamentally change the naval war. Without a German battle fleet, the Royal Navy would have far greater freedom to consider the amphibious operations Fisher advocated. Such an operation might try to bypass or disrupt the Western Front and impose a new strategic problem on Germany. A surviving fleet in being restricts what an enemy navy can safely attempt.